The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-07-22
THE STATEHOOD MOVEMENT.


Nothing which has occurred in this
country lately has created more OF
sensation or excited wider comment
than the Utah Statehood movement
The newspapers are still talking about
the proposed Constitution and the ap-
peal for admission to the Union, and
while many journals are opposed to the
State on political grounds, and others
because they assume that the provision
forbidding polygamy is not sincere
expression on the part of the people,
there are numerous other papers which
take fair and reasonable view of the
matter. Below We reproduce from
leading journols some editorial com
ments on the movement. The Balti-
more american, a Republican news
paper, says:
The admission of Utah Territory as State
will probably be the most exciting issue in
the Eiftieth Congress. In some respects it
viii be similar to the great struggle for the
admission OF Kansas under pro-Slavery
constitution, which disrupted the Demo
the North and South. There is one striking
difference, however. In Kansas, the pro-
slavery men packed the convention with
their own followers, and the constitution
made by them did not represent the
sentiments of the majority of the
voters in the Territory; whereas in
Utah the MOrmons are greatly in the
majority, and have framed constitution
which does not voice their own principles,
butthose of the minority. In Kansas the
Democrats strove in vain to bolster up their
waning power in national politics by the
unlawful creation of State favoring their
stand upon the slavery question, while in
Utah it is alleged that the Democrats have
intrigued TO offset the Republican prepon-
derance in the United States Senate by the
creation of two new Senators. Anywhere
else but in Utah the effort of the majority of
the people to escape the chrysalis stage of
government would excite neither comment
nor opposition, but there is strong cOnvic-
ton in the public mind that men who have
so stoutly upheld and practiced the doctrine
of polygamy, both as q religious and social
duty, under circumstances which, in their
estimation, amount to the fercest kind of
persecution, are not the sort to yield sud
denly and without a struggle to the decent
sentiment of the country 1t is currently
reported that certain shrewd Democratic
politicians have advised the Mormons TO
adopt this course, assuring them that as
soon as Utah is admitted as a sovereign
State they will have the power to regulate
their own domestic affairs, and can either
nullify the provision in the Constitution
against polygamy by electing officers who
will ignore it, or can call another constitu-
tiOnal convention and omit the provision al
together from the organic law.
The Detroit Free Press, Democratic,
treats the matter thus intelligently:
It is very easy to say that the people Of
Utah are not citing in good faith in incor-
porating in their co stitution a prohibition
of polygamv 1t is far more han likely, in
d ed that they are not. Yet it would be es-
tablishing dangerous precedent to refuse
the Territory admission as a State all the
technical requirements being complied
with-On the ground that the constitution
may hereaf' er be amended or changed so as
to permit polygamy. such a precedent
would furnish the excuse Tor refusal in any
case, no ma how COM lee the qualiica-
tions for Statehood Dakota might be re-
jected on the very same grou d, for no
power can compel that Territory, when once
adm tt as ate. to retain intact the con
stitutiol upon which L Is admitted. Its
right to amend Wheo once ii becomes State
will be as broad and as uuqueStiOned as that
of Michigan. Yet if Utah is refused admis-
sion because of a susp.sloR-no matter how
stroRg-that her constitution is to be
amended in any Objectionable W Y, the sug-
gestion of a suspicior-nO matter how weak
that Dakota intends 30 do similar thing
will furnish all the excuse necessary for re
jecting that Territorys application.
THE OMAHA Bee, Republican says:
Interest in the progress of events in Utah
is said to have penetrated administration
circles In Washington, and the fact that Sol.
icitor jerks is reported to be in the Territory
gives credibility to the statement. The
idea assumed to be behind this interest is
that of admitting Utah to the sisterhood of
States as an offset to Dakota, which the Dem
ocrats see cannot much longer be excluded
from Statehood. 1t is surmised that the
mission Of Mr. jerks has reference to ascer-
tanning the feeling of the Mormons regard
ing the political parties of the county, and
as he represents Democratic administra-
ton, it is not unlikely he will receive the
sort OF encouragement he hopes for How
much Mormon promises are worth how
ever, in political way, is a matter vet to be
demonstrated F"
The Pittsburg Post, Democratic,
entertains the correctide of the scheme,
as will be seen by the fol owing:
We do not see how a more effective or
permanent provision could be put in con-
sutution or statute than this. Ifit indicates
that the Mormon eaders have grown weary
OF the long fight for their peculiar institu
lions, and at last are resigned to accent the
inevitable, abandon polygamy and aid in
its expulsion, the result Is most gratifying.
Nor do we see that sny trick or device is
concealed in these sections. They are
sweeping, direct and to the point
The Ohio State journal, Republican
says:
Utah Is not suffering for Statehood. We
imagine but there is no need OF indulping
in vain fears Polygamy would be no more
lawful in State than Territory, and have
no better standing. 1t is forbidden By the
laws of the United states; and Ethe C6nSti-
tuition of the United States and the laws
made in pursuance thereof are the supreme
law of the land, anything in the constiJu-
ton or laws of any of the States to the con-
trary notwithstanding"
Here is what the Pueblo (CoT. Press,
Democratic, says:
If the anti-polygsmists or Gentiles of
the country are not satisfied with the dis
position the Mormon convention has made
of polygamy, it is difficult to cor eeive what
would satisfy them.
THE MAN who mourns because there
L